The Perfect Self Care Time Management Tool

The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities. Stephen Covey

I’m not a fan of re-inventing the wheel. However, I am a fan of re-imagining how the wheel can be used. What I’m about to share with you came out of a coaching call that I had a couple weeks ago. We were talking about how having unexpected empty space during her day felt disruptive to her daily rhythm. Instead of using that newly open space to schedule her self care priorities, she was prioritizing her schedule. She set an expectation on herself to fit everything in that she had planned to do.

The tool that we came up with is a re-imagined Pomodoro Technique. This is for those mornings, afternoons, evenings when you find yourself with time to intentionally schedule your biggest priority – yourself!

Prioritize undistracted self care for 25 minutes. Time yourself. Turn off work notifications. What to do for 25 minutes? Here are some of my favorite activities:

Journal

color

dance

run a bath

paint your toenails

apply a face mask

read a book

sit in the sunshine

meditate

call a friend

move your body in any way that feels amazing!

After 25 minutes is up, take a 5 minute break. Which means now you can fold the laundry, answer an email or two, plan/prep for your next meal, or anything else that was on your to-do list.

When you find yourself with empty space, and you feel restless because you’ve got to get shit done, try this instead. I’m positive you won’t regret it!